Caitlin Owens Nov
21, 2019
Data: Mental Health Treatment and Research
Institute; Chart: Axios Visuals
As suicide and
overdose rates have increased, mental health and substance abuse insurance
coverage has gotten worse, according to a new Milliman report commissioned by the
Mental Health Treatment and Research Institute.
Why it
matters: Behavioral health treatment often isn't covered by insurance,
and it's often unaffordable — including for patients for whom treatment is
a matter of life and death.
By the
numbers: Coverage of substance abuse treatment was especially bad
compared to physical health treatment.
·
The numbers for residential treatment facilities are
particularly rough; in 2017, more than 50% of care in these facilities was out of
network.
Behavioral
health providers are also paid less than physical health
providers.
·
Behavioral health providers are paid, on average, less than the
Medicare rate, while primary care doctors and physical health specialists make
more than the Medicare rate.
·
These low rates can discourage providers from joining insurance
networks.
My thought
bubble: If we're going to make a serious attempt to tackle suicide and
overdose rates, enforcing the requirement that mental health care be covered
the same way physical health care is would be a good place to start.
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